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Laws backs Sheffield Wednesday's 'flying' JJ

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Published Date: 10 September 2009
By Paul Thompson
Sheffield Wednesday
BRIAN Laws has hailed Jermaine Johnson's flying start to the season as his best since he joined the Owls.
The Jamaica international has won his first Player of the Month award, scored four goals and showed some scintillating form both up front and out wide.

"JJ is showing just what a player he is if he is consistent," said Laws. "This is his best start for us.

"He has got people on the edge of their seats before, but only in spasms. Now he is doing it more consistently.

"He is enjoying his role, whether he plays up front or out wide, and he is looking to score goals; he has also hooked into the work ethic and commitment, the same as everybody else.

"He has been helped by the other players; we have more experienced players who are talking to him on the pitch; he is taking it on board."

Johnson is set to take his place in an unchanged side against Forest at Hillsborough on Saturday after helping to engineer the 3-1 win at Plymouth in the last game.

Laws is also looking for the Owls to record a third consecutive League win: "We've had a really good start to the season; we know there's still room for improvement. We should have more points on the board and we're looking forward to the challenges ahead."

Wednesday's new ticket deals for the unemployed, low-income families and people on income support have been welcomed by Sheffield MP and former Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Unemployed fans can buy tickets for only £10 for Hillsborough's North-west corner, and low income families can get family tickets for £30.

The club have also widened the offer by allowing friends of those on job-seekers' allowance to buy a ticket in an adjacent seat in the North-west corner.

Blunkett said it was welcome recognition of the hard times that fans were going through, and good commercial sense to offer this "extra help".

He said: "As honorary president of Wednesdayite, I'm very pleased indeed that the club are responding quickly and positively. and I hope that families will take up this offer."

What do you think? Add your comments below.

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  • Last Updated: 10 September 2009 10:05 AM
  • Source: Sheffield Star
  • Location: Sheffield
 
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Parson X Owl,

Sheffield 10/09/2009 12:01:34
Why have Wednesday decided to herd all of the unemployed up in to Hillsborough's North-west corner?

Is Strafford deliberately trying to treat these people like leppers?

If I was unemployed I'd be ashamed to take the club up on this offer, as everyone else would look down on anyone sat in this area. It's like someone sticking a badge on you, labeling you a doleite, or a scrounger.

Aren't these people good enough to sit with everyone else? It's not like there isn't enough empty seats elsewhere, is it?

"Here are the unfortunate of society and so they must sit up in the North-west corner, to atone for their sins"

This policy absolutely stinks, in my opinion.

There's nothing like being treated like an outcast by your own club, is there!

Why couldn't the club just let them sit anywhere in the ground, especially the Kop, which is usually half empty anyhow?

If the Kop is good enough for professors and lecturers of the University to sit there for a measly £5, and who are earning 40k per annum and who come from other cities, then it should also be good enough for unemployed Sheffielders who have supported their club since childhood.

Not impressed Strafford! Wednesday should be ashamed of their actions with this humiliating policy.
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Silverlining,

Doncaster 10/09/2009 12:17:11
Are you a blade, a WUM, or both? You certainly never come across as a right thinking Wednesdayite, that is for certain. Rather that taking the positives out of the scheme you'd rather pick up on where people taking up the offer are made to sit. As it doesn't specifically affect you, why are you all indignant about it? Let the people that it affects decide whether or not it is a "humiliating" policy. Personally, if I was unemployed I'd be made up that I could make a few games where previously it had been a financial impossibility for me to do so.
But then I'm a true Owl...
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s20owl,

10/09/2009 12:24:34
For once I agree with Parson X Owl. I thought exactly the same when I read it and I also have a job. Surely there's another way of doing this by going through the ticket office and proving you're unemployed and get a ticket for the other stands. I think it's a good scheme just don't put them all together as it is like labelling them.
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Parson X Owl,

Sheffield 10/09/2009 12:30:25
What's a WUM?

Is this yet another Strafford sound bite?

Yes, I do have a strong interest, because I have very good friends who are unemployed Wednesdayites. They lost their jobs last year and have been Owls season ticket holders for years, until now. They have personally told me that they think the policy stinks.

Silverlining - Why can't you give a reasoned debate, as to why they can't sit on our half empty Kop, instead of being made to feel like second-class citizens?

I tell you what, why don't you go and sit in the North-west corner for the Forest match, with a big hat on your head, and a sign showing the following:

"unemployed fan - I'd like to thank the Owls for letting me sit here on the cheap"

If you do this and provide a photo, I will willing donate £100 to your favourite charity.

Your full of cr.ap pal and you're all mouth. You don't have the bottle, or the humility to do such a thing. It's OK, as long as your selfish self doesn't have to be humiliated.

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dirkster,

Sheffield 10/09/2009 12:41:15
Gosh you certainly don't sit on the fence do you PX? The discounting is very nearly a terrific and sensible gesture but I am inclined to side with you that it could have been done better.
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wesps,

10/09/2009 12:56:34
Think WUM is wind up merchant abb its an internet thing. Pretty sure its what you are though, either that or unfathomably miserable, although would agree that segregating into one corner is only going to invite abuse from both sets of fans (a minority of them but theres still going to be the odd chant)

Good initiative could be tweaked and probably will be LS hasn't done anything wrong so far no matter what you'd love to think
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waddlewonderland,

Sheffield 10/09/2009 13:14:13
I work but if i put myself in their shoes i could quite honestly say that i would not mind sitting there. It actually has a decent view for a start and if i wasnt earning and had the chance to watch my team i would'nt care where i sat. Parson X i think that your friends are being a tad ungrateful. Quite some time ago my family didnt have much money and an offer came up like this so our family could go to the game but we had to sit underneath the away fans. Do you know what every member of my family loved it.

Stop moaning. I am sure that there will be loads of fans that are really grateful to stafford and co for the oppertunity to watch their beloved team, regardless of where they are sat.

UTO
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UpTheOwls,

10/09/2009 13:14:34
Parson X Owl - Regarding your first comment. Why should people who pay a tenner sit where season ticket holders or full paying people sit. We pay far higher prices for a good view. Either the policy should be pay smaller fee for limited views or everyone should have to pay the same. I know SWFC are tryng to get bums on seats but i fell peeved that fans who dont turn up get this incentive and as a season ticket holder i just hope that we get some reward for putting money up front and supporting the club from kick off. As it stands we get a mesly 10% discount in the shop. I do have a job and i travel 280 miles round trip for a game. Wheres my reward? A free pie if i get in the ground before 2. Which proves my point that by lowering the gate prices everyone will be able to go, job or no job.
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owl1966,

10/09/2009 13:15:55
Been out of work for months,followed owls all over for years.Could not afford to go to first match but never miss first home match.So me and my son who is allso out of work got together what we could sell and got enough money together.But will not find £10 to sit and have abuse shouted at us for 90 mins like jeffers.
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student owl,

10/09/2009 13:30:11
Don't people go to football matches to watch football anymore? Unemployed don't have to go to the match if they don't want to but its a fantastic deal! I think its a shame that people feel they'll be ridiculed for supporting their own team!
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